Kalaupapa |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Wednesday, June 21, 1989 On the afternoon of June 19th, a rented, two-seat, single-engine Grumman aircraft with two persons on board crashed 100 yards from the Mau Kai airport while attempting an emergency landing. The pilot had radioed a May Day prior to the accident. The crash was witnessed by an administrative clerk at the park, who contacted the FAA. The Coast Guard responded and recovered the two victims, whose names have not been made available. (Al Baldwin, KALA, via CompuServe message from RAD/WRO).
A fire was discovered in the old hospital building around 5:30 a.m. on July 18th. Although the building was unoccupied, it was being used as a storage area for both the park and the Hawaii Department of Heath and a wing was being remodeled as a maintenance office. Other park buildings were scorched, but the fire was confined to the original old hospital. The new hospital was evacuated, with no injuries reported. A damage assessment is being completed, but the building itself is a total loss. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation. (Al Baldwin, KALA, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/18).
At about 10:00 p.m. on December 13th, a 69-foot long-liner fishing vessel with a crew of five on board wrecked on the northeast coast of Kalaupapa. The crew escaped unharmed, but the stainless-steel-hulled ship was soon a total loss as 12-foot seas pushed by winds gusting to 40 knots pounded the ship into a lava tube stern first. The crew camped out until daybreak, then walked out to the airport. About 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel escaped from the ship's ruptured tanks, but it appears from initial surveys of the inter- tidal and coastal spray zone vegetation communities that damage is minor and that it won't be worth seeking compensation under 43 CFR Part II. Clean-up is underway under Coast Guard direction. (Superintendent, KALA, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/27).
On January 28th, three men in a small inflatable raft attempted to paddle out to a small island off Oahu but were blown out to sea by strong "Kona" winds. A combined Coast Guard - county search was begun when they were reported missing, but no sign of them was found during four days of searching. On the morning of February 1st, a psychic advised the Coast Guard that two of the three men were clinging to rocks on the northeast side of Kalaupapa Peninsula. Rangers searched the entire area at the request of the Coast Guard, but found no sign of the men. [Phil Dendel, Superintendent, KALA, 2/3]
Interment ceremonies were held on July 22nd for a relic of the beatified Belgian Catholic priest Joseph De Veuster, known as Blessed Damien. Damien served those inflicted with leprosy in Kalaupapa from 1873 to 1889, when he died of the disease and was buried in Kalawao. Damien's remains were exhumed in 1936 and interred in his home town in Belgium. He was beatified by Pope John Paul in June. Over 530 visitors attended the reinterment ceremony. An estimated 140 of them hiked two and a half miles down the 1,600-foot trail into the park. The park's staff was assisted by rangers from all of Hawaii's national parks and representatives from state DNR, local police and fire agencies, DOT and the FAA. There were five minor medical incidents, two minor aircraft mishaps (it took over 100 flights to transport all parties to the site), and one minor accident during the event. [Eric Beckert, IC, KALA]
On August 7th, two members from a group of seven people who were kayaking the north shore of Moloka'i advised the park that one of their kayaks had sunk and that its occupant, J.H., was stranded in rough seas about a mile west of the Kalaupapa Peninsula. Ranger Erick Beckert and grounds crew worker William Kalipi responded to the area in the park zodiac and rescued J.H. from the water. J.H. reported that he'd been in the water for over two hours. The incident occurred in breaking seas of over ten feet and winds of 30 knots. [Eric Beckert, KALA]
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake centered about a mile west-southwest of Waikoloa on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii rocked the entire island chain just after 7 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, October 15th. Shortly thereafter, the islands were shaken by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. These two big quakes were followed by more than 20 aftershocks, mostly in the 3.0 to 4.5 range. The first quake caused severe damage to the Kona, Kohala and Hamakua areas of the Big Island. Power was out throughout much of the state. All major airports were shut down temporarily until power was restored. All the national parks in Hawaii immediately began damage assessments. The Pacific Area Communication Center, which serves as the central dispatching center for all the Hawaii parks, remained open and functional throughout the disaster. Radio communication and the phone system remained intact. The following is a roundup of reports from affected parks: Kalaupapa NHP - The park, located on the island of Molokai, was closed but has reopened. FEMA has assembled a U.S. Forest Service team to document damage to federal areas. The team is scheduled to arrive on the Big Island sometime this week. [Sharon Ringsven, Park Ranger, HALE; Gail Minami-Judd, Incident Commander, HAVO; Kaiini Kaloi, Department of the Interior]
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii rocked the entire island chain on the morning of Sunday, October 15th. Between Sunday morning and late Tuesday, the islands were hit by more than 60 aftershocks, the biggest being near 4.0. The governor has issued a disaster declaration, and the state has been designated a federal disaster area. The following report summarizes the status of affected parks as of Tuesday afternoon: Kalaupapa National Historic Site (Moloka'i, Hawai'i) - Park staff report numerous rockslides between switchbacks 1 through 6 on the main park road and washouts along a third of the trail at switchback 26. Visitors and staff have been able to negotiate the trail on foot. The concession-run mule ride that utilizes this trail has closed.
On September 18th, the state of Hawaii's domestic cannabis eradication/suppression program (DCE/SP) task force conducted its annual statewide marijuana eradication/suppression "super mission." The operation continued for ten consecutive days and included Pacific Area law enforcement personnel from the National Park Service. The operation included all NPS lands within the state - Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Pu'uhonua O Honaunau NHP, Puukohola Heiau NHS, Kaloko-Honokohau NHP, Haleakala NP, Kalaupapa NHP and the USS Arizona Memorial. Statewide, team members eradicated 15,505 plants, seized 17 pounds of processed marijuana, $8,380 in cash and two firearms, and made ten arrests. Statistics in each of these categories have trended steadily downward over past years due to the relentless efforts of the participating agencies, which conduct bimonthly eradication operations year-round. These operations, coupled with aggressive prosecutions of cases on federal lands and heavy media coverage, have collectively become known as the "Hawaii Model" for the so-called "M7" states of the DCE/SP program - Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The result has been that most marijuana is now being found outside park boundaries and on adjacent state and private property. Without this intensive focus on park lands, marijuana growers would undoubtedly return to the seclusion and isolation of NPS areas within the state. [Scott Hinson, Special Agent in Charge]
A strong storm passing to the north of the Hawaiian Islands yesterday brought gale force winds, high surf and flash floods. Winds were clocked at from 40 to 80 mph (with higher gusts) and waves reached heights of 18 to 22 feet on north shores. Parks throughout the islands reported associated problems. Here's how they stood as of yesterday morning (local time): Kalaupapa - The park closed. [Karen Newton, with reports from Hawaiian parks]
A strong storm passing to the north of the Hawaiian Islands this week brought gale force winds, high surf and heavy rain to parks throughout the islands. A current status report follows: Kalaupapa - No report has been received. [Sharon Ringsven, HALE, and Karen Newton, PWRO, with reports from Hawaiian parks]
Parks throughout the Hawaiian Islands have provided current reports on their status following last week's severe storm: Kalaupapa - The landing strip to the settlement is open. The trail from up top used by employees and the mule ride is closed due to rock slide damage. Damien Tours is closed. The telephone system is in and out and the radio system is available for local use only. Staff are using cell phones to contact outside areas. A meeting was to be held yesterday to evaluate trail conditions and ascertain what measures need to be taken to clear it. [Teri Murphy, Manager, Pacific Area Communications Center]
On October 18th, computer contractor R.S. of Molokai was sentenced in federal court following his conviction for theft of government money (18 USC 641). R.S. was contracted to provide maintenance service to computers on the remote peninsula at Kalaupapa NHP. Although he received payments for services he claimed he was providing on computers and servers owned by the NPS, special agents with the NPS, FBI and DOI's Office of the Inspector General determined that he was not authorized to nor had access to the equipment or software he was invoicing the government for servicing. R.S. was sentenced to five years' probation and 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay $8,800 in restitution to the NPS. [Neil Akana, Special Agent]
Parks in the Hawaiian Islands are preparing for the impacts of Tropical Storm Felicia. As of yesterday afternoon, Felicia's center was located about 235 miles east-northeast of Hawai'i Island. The storm continues to move westward toward Hawaii at 12 mph. On this track, the center of Felicia is expected to reach the islands sometime today. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the islands of Maui (site of Haleakala National Park), Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Moloka'i (site of Kalaupapa National Historical Park), and O'ahu (site of World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument). Felicia packs maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts. A large ocean swell generated by Felicia is already affecting coastlines across the state. Two reports have been received on preparations: Regardless of the intensity of Felicia when it reaches the Hawaiian Islands, locally heavy rainfall is still expected to occur and flash flooding remains a possibility. [Mardie Lane, HAVO, and Naaman Horn, HALE]
One of the Hansen's disease patients still living in the settlement at Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai is facing federal drug charges after allegedly trying to ship crystal methamphetamine to the remote Kalaupapa peninsula. DEA agents stopped the man at the Honolulu airport last November and found 4.6 grams of methamphetamine in a box he was planning to take back to Kalaupapa. He was not arrested at the time, but was placed under surveillance. On February 26th, he tried to ship another box containing 18 grams of methamphetamine to the Kalaupapa settlement, but the package was intercepted by agents. The man has been released on a $25,000 bond while awaiting trial on charges of possession with the intent to distribute. There was widespread media coverage of this criminal case throughout Hawaii. Kalaupapa National Historical Park was spotlighted on national television last October due to the canonization ceremonies for Father Damien de Veuster, the Belgian born Catholic priest who contracted Hansen's disease and died at Kalaupapa in 1889 while ministering to patients there. The suspect was prominently featured in news coverage of the group of Kalaupapa residents who traveled to Rome in October for the canonization of Father Damien. The investigation is on-going. [Amy H. Sakurada, Protection Ranger]
The Pali Trail access to Kalaupapa National Historical Park has been closed due to severe erosion and slide activity adjacent to a bridge near the top portion of the three-and-a-half mile long trail. The Pali Trail is used by visitors and park employees travelling by foot and mule train from topside Molokai to Kalaupapa NHP. The only other access to Kalaupapa NHP is by a commercial airline or on-demand airplane charters, both of which are expensive. Emergency funds to conduct repairs to the bridge have been authorized and selection of a contractor should occur in the near future. Damage to the bridge was caused by several days of heavy rainfall. However, plans to replace the old bridge were already in process prior to the recent rain event. In addition, the entire Kalaupapa peninsula has been without electrical power and phone service since April 11th due to heavy rains and high winds that knocked down power lines that descend the 1,600-foot-high cliffs above the park. Park employees and residents are using generators for power and satellite phones for communication until electrical power is restored. [Stephen Prokop, Superintendent]
The Kalaupapa Pali Trail has reopened following the recent completion of major trail repairs. The trail was officially closed on April 13th due to heavy rains that caused a catastrophic landslide and washed away part of the trail and bridge. Repair of the trail was a top priority in Pacific West Region because it is the only overland connection for visitors and residents to travel to Kalaupapa. The cost of the repair work was nearly $400,000 and involved trail crews from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, and employees of Kalaupapa Guided Mule Tours. The bridge replacement work required sophisticated engineering and geo-technical studies prior to installation. Historically, this portion of the trail has been the most hazardous and prone to washouts. Previous bridges installed over the past 25 years were temporary solutions and a more stable solution was needed to ensure the safety of visitors and mule trains along the trail. The new bridge, made of strong, light-weight aluminum, is supported by two solid footings that are literally bolted into the sheer cliff face at each end. [Stephen Prokop, Superintendent]
The 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan last Friday - the fifth largest quake in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times stronger than the one that recently devastated Christchurch, New Zealand - produced a tsunami that crossed the open and came up on the shores of park beaches from Guam to the West Coast. No visitor or employee injuries have been reported. The following summarizes reports submitted from all affected areas: Kalaupapa - During the early hours of Friday morning, 56 residents of the Kalaupapa community, including a number of patients from the care facility, were evacuated to a location a mile inland. No damage to park resources or facilities has been reported. [Dean Ross, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, WASO; Karen Gatewood, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, PWRO; Steve Chaney, Superintendent, REDW; Kim Coast, Acting Chief Ranger, GOGA; John Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO]
Two people were airlifted from Kalaupapa Trail on Moloka'i after falling from the mules they were riding while descending the trail on the morning of December 14th. A 54-year-old California man was taken to the Moloka'i Airport, then transferred to a helicopter medevac that flew him to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious condition. He was knocked unconscious during the fall and suffered head injuries. A 36-year-old woman who is an employee of the Moloka'i Mule Tour was transported to Moloka'i General Hospital in serious condition for treatment of head and torso injuries sustained in the fall. The accident happened after the mule that the California visitor was riding on ran into the mule in front of it, causing the woman to fall off. The area where the incident occurred was about halfway down the 3.2 mile cliff side trail. While firefighters worked their way down from above, three rangers made their way up from the bottom. They reached the injured parties first and provided initial treatment. After reaching the scene, firefighters secured the man in a stretcher basket and prepped him to be airlifted topside by the fire department's Air 1 helicopter. After transferring the man to paramedics on Kalae Highway, they returned and airlifted the woman to the landing zone near the highway. Source: News story, Maui Now.
On July 9, the day of the first park-led tours for the public, about 25 Moloka'i residents led a protest at the trailhead, located in Pālā'au State Park. They held signs saying "No tours on Kalaupapa" and "Feds get out," and a Maui County Council member held the gate to the trailhead shut. After a 15-minute interruption in which protestors stated their concerns, they acquiesced to a ranger's request for them to move, and the tour was able to continue. One protestor stated that the tours were started without any community consultation and felt that the tours would be "a cash cow for NPS." Previously, by the park's enabling legislation, tours were only permitted by companies owned by individuals with Hansen's disease at the site. Though there are two remaining individuals still living at Kalaupapa, neither of them have operated a tour company. On July 11, the NPS stated it has paused future tours "while it reassesses the feasibility of visitor access." Source: Honolulu Civil Beat, KHON2 | |